What to visit in Granada and where to park
When it comes to deciding what to visit in Granada, there are so many monuments, historic areas and dreamlike landscapes that it’s hard to narrow it down to just a few places you can see over a weekend.
Knowing we’ll be leaving out plenty of spots that are worth visiting, we’ll dare to suggest a few must-see visits that you can fit into just a couple of days.
As in all the major cities in our country, parking in Granada can turn into quite an adventure for those who don’t know the city well. So, while we’re at it, we’ll complete the information with parking suggestions or places where you can leave your vehicle without too much hassle.
Is it better to park on the street or in a car park?
If what we value most is the integrity of the vehicle and the peace of mind of knowing it won’t be the target of an attempted theft, the most sensible choice is to use a secure car park in Granada.
Another option — also highly recommended — is to park on Granada’s streets using the blue or green zones. Their rates are very affordable and the parking attendants also help keep an eye on the area, alerting the authorities if necessary.
If you decide to park in Granada’s blue zone, it’s important to understand how it works. Not all cities operate the same way. In Granada there are three regulated zones — Blue Zone, Red Zone and Green Zone — and each one has different maximum parking times and rates. If you want to learn more about Granada’s regulated parking, visit the Movilidad de Granada portal.
Places to visit in Granada
Let’s explore what to do or what to visit in Granada, combining the city’s history and artistic heritage with moments of leisure and relaxation:
The Alhambra and the Generalife
Granada’s most famous monument is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The architectural complex formed by the Alhambra Palace and the Generalife (a summer residence for the Nasrid sultans of Granada) is one of the best-preserved Muslim cities in the world.
The visit lets us travel back through the centuries and experience a kind of daydream in which it feels like we’re truly living in the period of Muslim rule.
We recommend booking tickets well in advance: with more than 3 million visitors a year, this historic complex is one of the most visited in the world.
There are no parking issues, as the area has its own dedicated parking spaces.
Palace of Charles V
Although it’s included within the Alhambra complex, this monument deserves to be considered separately. So if you visit the Alhambra, think of this palace as an independent monument.
Its architectural style and artistic treasures have nothing to do with the rest of the Alhambra complex: legend has it that the Emperor of Europe Charles V of Germany (Charles I of Spain) fell in love with the Alhambra after visiting it with his wife and ordered this majestic palace to be built beside it.
Granada’s Albaicín neighbourhood
So, what can we see in Granada if we want to dive fully into a truly Muslim atmosphere? Albaicín is the right answer: it’s the neighbourhood with the most tradition and character in the city.
Getting lost in its typical, distinctive little streets, we’ll find monumental areas and hospitality and commercial establishments that take us back in time — among them, its legendary tea houses with a genuinely Muslim flair.
In this neighbourhood (also declared a World Heritage Site) parking is difficult — not to say impossible. So it’s best to leave the car parked in a car park in another area and walk over.
Granada Cathedral
A masterpiece of the Renaissance. In Granada Cathedral of the Incarnation, we can admire an impressive altarpiece and a remarkable collection of artworks. With many chapels inside, the great Main Chapel stands out in particular.
To visit this monument, you can park at Parking Hermanos Maristas and book your space in advance with Apparkya; you’ll save not only money but also time, because you’ll forget about driving around looking for parking.
Royal Chapel of Granada
Next to the Cathedral, this Gothic-style chapel was built by order of the Catholic Monarchs. Queen Isabella died before construction was completed, but after King Ferdinand’s death, the mortal remains of both were interred in this chapel.
The kings Philip the Handsome and Joanna the Mad also rest here.
Royal Monastery of San Jerónimo
This is the first Christian monastery built after the Reconquest of Granada. It combines Gothic and Renaissance styles.
Especially notable are its collection of sculptures, the Gothic cloister, the access portals and the Main Altarpiece. A visit to the crypt is a must, where the Great Captain and his wife María Manrique rest eternally.
For parking, the Parking Hermanos Maristas is very close by.
Additionally, there you can check the rates in advance and access useful information about what to visit in Granada near your parking spot, including interesting areas, tapas bars and traditional Andalusian restaurants, as well as the nearest hotels.
